For These Volunteers, MLK Day is All About Service

By David Taub, Senior Reporter

Published 7 years ago on

January 15, 2018

For employees of healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente Fresno, the Martin Luther King holiday isn’t a day off. It is a day on.
Nearly 80 volunteers worked on projects in and around the Poverello House homeless services campus in downtown Fresno on Monday (Jan. 15). They helped paint sheds, organize hygiene kits, prepare food in the kitchen and reach out to the homeless.

“Fresno is great, but we still have problems: homeless, poverty, children not graduating. We want people to do good every day.” — Carol Davies of HandsOn Central California

The volunteerism left Poverello House’s CEO Cruz Avila searching for words.
“We are left speechless,” Avila told the group during a break in the action. “We can’t say thank you enough.”

A Tradition for Kaiser Permanente Employees

The day is part of Kaiser Permanente Fresno’s year-around volunteer efforts. Last year, their volunteers beautified Stone Soup Fresno by working on their grounds and refreshing their buildings. Stone Soup, which is near Fresno State, provides services to refugee families.
Carol Davies of HandsOn Central California helped organize Monday’s efforts.
“Fresno is great, but we still have problems: homeless, poverty, children not graduating. We want people to do good every day,” Davies said.

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David Taub,

Senior Reporter

Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email